2011 Africa Awards Will End In Nairobi, 8th December 2011

Kicking off its fourth successful year, the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship recognises and rewards African business leaders who embody the entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrate the qualities required to succeed in business. Applicants will be evaluated on key areas such as profitability, return on investment and growth; long-term business strategy; leadership, culture and values; investment in employees; innovation to address market needs; and contribution to the community.

The 2011 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship builds upon the highly successful 2010 programme, which included over 2,700 entries received from 15 countries and 18 different industry sectors; 250 business leaders and influencers attended the Gala Awards Event; and 10 finalists from Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda were recognised. Since 2007, the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship programme has grown from five countries to including every country in Africa.

The announcement of this year’s Africa Awards coincides with the publication of a report on entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa from the Legatum Institute, the publishers of the 110-country Global Prosperity Index. The report finds that entrepreneurs are the “enablers of growth” who break down economic barriers and social constraints and that entrepreneurship and access to opportunity are by far the most highly correlated indicators of a nation’s overall prosperity.

For the first time, a high-profile one-day conference on entrepreneurship, CONVERGENCE: AFRICA, headlined by a globally-recognised champion of entrepreneurship, will precede the Gala Awards banquet on December 8th in Nairobi. The 2011 Africa Awards will conclude by honouring the ten finalists and winners in the presence of an international audience of leading business people, investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.